The Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council recently learned that William Obbagy, the former managing editor of both the Cleveland Citizen and the Ohio Labor Citizen passed away. Obbagy, 78, from Lakewood, passed away on Oct. 29, 2024. He was the third managing editor of The Cleveland Citizen, which published its first edition on Jan. 31, 1891.
Read MoreThe August 2025 edition of The Labor Citizen should look and feel a little different, as a result of contracting with a different printing facility. In March 2025, the owners of the Canton Repository Press sent notice that after July 2025, they would no longer print the monthly pro-labor publication. No reason was provided with the termination notice. Eventually, Labor Citizen staff determined Canton would be printing numerous additional publications owned by the Gannett Co., following the closure of a printing facility outside Detroit, Mich. This ended a working relationship that went back decades, possibly longer. No one currently affiliated with The Labor Citizen has ever worked with any other printer.
Read MoreThe calendar may have turned to a new year, but for many of Ohio’s union construction workers, it looks like another year with an abundance of manhours available. “Work in the big cities is doing very well,” said Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Secretary-Treasurer Mike Knisley. “Some (other) areas could be better. Overall, I would describe the statewide outlook as plentiful. There will be enough work for all tradespeople.”
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